A contract has been awarded to build a single lane replacement for the 126-year-old Kakanui Bridge, on the coastal scenic route south of Oamaru.
The Waitaki District Council announced yesterday Concrete Structures (NZ) Ltd has been awarded the contract for the $11.6 million bridge.
It will be 57% funded by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and 43% by the council.
Work will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
In a statement, district council chief executive Alex Parmley said the new bridge would be a fully concrete, single-lane structure capable of carrying heavy goods vehicles.
It would be slightly upstream of the existing bridge, which opened in October 1899.
A road realignment linked to the new bridge approaches would also improve its resilience.
Mr Parmley said hopefully timber from the old bridge could be reused.
The boat ramp west of the old bridge will be closed during construction.
A replacement ramp will be built at the site of the old bridge following its demolition.
The Kakanui route is officially the alternative route south from Oamaru, via Kakanui and Waianakarua, when SH1 has to close.
Mr Parmley said the new bridge would ensure "alternative options" to SH1. — APL
